Junior High

Grades 6-8

Junior High at Saint Hilary School is a safe and supportive place, where the uniqueness of each child is recognized. Saint Hilary School is large enough to allow for a breadth of interpersonal experiences and access to a variety of teachers and support staff, yet intimate enough to ensure that all teachers know all students.

While preparing our students for High School, each student’s talents are nurtured as they are led to care deeply about each other and the world. This balance of personal growth and achievement, as part of a socially responsible community, provide our students the tools they need to lead meaningful and successful lives.

The Junior High setting encourages interpersonal experience and wide access to a range of teachers, yet one that provides a supportive environment where teachers know their students well. Small class size, averaging at 30 students per class, is enhanced by one-on-one and small group instruction.

Our Junior High Language Arts and Social Studies Program implements a project based approach to the interpretation of literature, writing composition, and the study of history. Students are encouraged to read while trying to identify the author’s voice and bias. In our writing program students are taught to write with purpose while considering their audiences’ potential bias. Utilizing cloud technology, students are able to collaborate, critique, and complete writing assignments at home and at school. Saint Hilary teachers and students look at the study of the past as an opportunity to build a better future. Students demonstrate comprehension through Socratic seminars, culminating projects, and formal assessment.

The Big Ideas Math program is used schoolwide and is based on the Common Core State Standards and Standards for Mathematical Practice. There are significantly fewer standards than in the past, allowing for extended instructional time on each. The program’s balanced approach, blending discovery with direct instruction, helps students move from concrete to representative understanding and then to abstract representation and the ability to apply the concepts in real life.   Learning mathematics is cumulative. In the Big Ideas Math program, each grade level builds on the concepts students learned in earlier grades, without repetition. This learning creates a fabric of knowledge that is woven tighter and tighter throughout students’ schooling.

The Big Ideas Math program meets the three aspects of rigor defined by the Criteria for Evaluating Mathematics Instructional Material: 1. Conceptual understanding; 2. Procedural skill and fluency; and 3. Applications through a balanced approach to instruction.  The Mathematical Practices are embedded throughout the Big Ideas Math program. Robust real-life applications in the lessons and exercise sets provide students the opportunity to use the practices and to develop an appreciation for mathematics as it applies to their lives. Big Ideas Math offers a true balanced approach through student-directed activities to develop conceptual understanding and direct instruction lessons that offer processes and procedures for fluency and real-life applications throughout.

A note about the Common Core State Standards: these require students to do more than memorize how to solve problems. The standards define skills and knowledge that young people need to succeed academically in credit-bearing, college-entry courses and in workforce training programs. Mastering the skills reflected in the Common Core State Standards prepares students for college and career. Research shows that students benefit from a program that includes equal exposure to discovery and direct instruction. By beginning each lesson with an inquiry-based activity, Big Ideas Math allows students to explore, question, explain, and persevere as they seek to answer Essential Questions that encourage abstract thought. These student-directed activities are followed by direct instruction lessons, allowing for procedural fluency, modeling, and the opportunity to use clear, precise mathematical language.

Our Religion program works to prepare students to enter the 21st century with a firm grounding in Christian values as well as an understanding of the Bible. In Grade 6 students study the Old Testament, in Grade 7 students study the Gospels, and in Grade 8 students complete confirmation and learn about the history of the Catholic Church.

While strengthening their knowledge and lived faith experience, students learn about other world religions, bolstering their identity as spiritual beings who appreciate other faiths. In Grades 7 and 8, students complete service hours, to experience the rewards of assisting others. Tutoring, helping the homeless, and assisting in warm clothing drives are some of the many community service opportunities provided through the very active Parish outreach.

A comprehensive Physical Education program challenges students to participate in athletics, identify their strengths, value sportsmanship, and work as part of a team. In addition, many elements of school life encourage students to stretch their knowledge and skills in ways beyond the standard curriculum.

Art Studio is led by a professional artist and talented teacher who challenges each student to explore his or her artistic talents and create lasting works of painting, photography, sculpture and more.

In addition, the Junior High's comprehensive curriculum includes Science, History, Social Studies, Spanish, Music, and Public Speaking. Critical thinking, role-playing, and hands on, in-depth projects lead students beyond rote learning into true understanding in all of their classes.

Overnight field trips provide unique opportunities for learning and community building. In Grade 6, students spend four days in an Outdoor Education Camp, and in Grade 7, students take a spiritual retreat to Yosemite National Park.

Leadership Student Council is a highlight of Junior High. Ten elected students attend a summer leadership camp in preparation for their upcoming term, during which they lead all-school assemblies, plan Spirit Days and other fundraising and fun-raising activities.

All students in Junior High are paired with “buddies” in Kindergarten, and Grades 1 and 2, a mentoring program which bridges the gap between Elementary and Junior High, and helps younger students become part of the Saint Hilary School community.

The balance of personal growth and achievement, as part of a socially responsible community, prepare our students for success in High School and throughout their academic careers.

6th Grade Curriculum Map 7th Grade Curriculum Map 8th Grade Curriculum Map